Overview

June 30
11AM PT, 2PM ET

Register

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of government — but successful adoption requires more than just deploying new tools. It demands a clear vision, solid governance and cross-functional collaboration.

Join us for Ask the Experts, a dynamic webinar series presented by Government Technology in partnership with IBM. Each episode features a candid conversation between leading AI experts and forward-thinking state or local government officials who are putting AI into action.

Through real-world examples and expert insight, we’ll explore how agencies are advancing through the AI adoption lifecycle — from setting strategic goals and establishing governance guardrails to aligning stakeholders, building operational frameworks, and deploying AI responsibly and ethically. Whether you’re just beginning your AI journey or looking to scale existing initiatives, this series offers actionable guidance to help your agency unlock the transformative potential of AI — securely, sustainably and in service of the public good.

Speakers

Divya Rathanlal headshot

Divya Rathanlal

Senior IT Manager, Austin Digital Services

With over 16 years of dedicated service in Government Technology, Divya Rathanlal is a recognized leader driving digital transformation, innovation, and collaboration. As the Senior IT Manager over Austin Digital Services, she drives technology strategies that bridge the gap between digital solutions and business objectives, ensuring seamless, user-centric government experiences. Divya’s pioneering work has earned local and national recognition, with prestigious awards for technological advancements, service delivery, and open government leadership. Her teams have been honored with Best of the Web, Digital Government Achievement Award, Government Experience Awards, and Bloomberg’s Gold Certification for Government Transparency. She was named an IBM Top 40 Woman Leader in AI, recognized for her contributions to Artificial Intelligence during the pandemic, and most recently received the Texas IT Leadership Award, celebrating her technical expertise, business acumen, and commitment to excellence. Beyond her executive leadership, Divya plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of public sector technology. As an Advisory Committee Member for the State of Texas Strategic Plan, she advances initiatives aligned with the City of Austin’s Next-Level Tech vision, driving accessibility, efficiency, and digital innovation. A passionate advocate for Women in Technology, Divya serves as the President of the Woman-To-Woman Affinity Group, fostering an inclusive and empowering industry. She is also a Leadership Austin 2024 Fellow, reinforcing her commitment to leadership, mentorship and civic impact.

Bala Vaithyalingam headshot

Bala Vaithyalingam

Worldwide Leader for Data & AI IBM Technology Expert Labs, IBM Software

Bala is a recognized Thought Leader on Data and AI from IBM. He leads Worldwide Solution Architecture team from IBM Technology Expert Labs to design and deliver solutions around Data and AI Strategy, Security, and AI Governance. Bala has proven track record of formulating and delivering Data and AI strategy for many State agencies, federal and private organizations in North America and around the world. Bala has patents on Data & AI space and received many awards in IBM including patent application invention achievement award. Bala is Invention board member, frequent speaker at industry conferences, active contributor to AI ethics and governance, including contributions to the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA) and part of IBM AI Ethics Board. Bala lives in Frisco, Texas, and holds a master of business administration (MBA) degree from Purdue University and awarded three University gold medals for his outstanding achievements in batcher degree (B.Tech) from Anna University, India.

Teri Takai headshot

Teri Takai — Moderator

Chief Programs Officer, e.Republic

Teri Takai is the Chief Programs Officer of e.Republic, the parent company of the Center for Digital Government. She worked for Ford Motor Company for 30 years in global application development and information technology strategic planning. From Ford, she moved to EDS in support of General Motors. A long-time interest in public service led her to the government sector, first as CIO of the State of Michigan, then as CIO of the State of California, and subsequently the CIO of the U.S. Department of Defense, the first woman appointed to this role. She then served as the CIO for Meridian Health Plan. She is a member of several industry advisory boards. Teri has won numerous awards including Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year, CIO Magazine’s CIO Hall of Fame, Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers, the Women in Defense Excellence in Leadership Award, and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

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